N O P A R T O F I T

Far more important than baking bread is the urge to take dough -beating to the extreme - Otto Muehl

Friday, February 24, 2012

Review of 333 on Touching Extremes

http://touchingextremes.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/arvo-zylo-333/

In an handwritten note, Arvo Zylo (note the relation between his first name and the website’s) advises me that it took six years to complete 333. The many hours that he put in are discernible throughout the three tracks of the CD, radical sharpness subjacent to music mostly born from of jolts and compulsions, classifiable without reluctance in the orbit of semi-dignified noise. The project’s unfolding leads the listener across stages of “refuse-any-melody”, industrial-scented cadenced autism, characterized by the same pros and cons of other releases in this battleground. This means that the physiological reaction connected to the initial impact is somewhat dampened by the absence of a functional evolution, the various constituents succeeding in separated scenes rather than agreeing to a proper arrangement. Things improve over subsequent temporal transitions, a distinct opening towards more “orchestral” sonorities making the difference; we even start hearing (perhaps illusively) echoes of samples in the overall crushing. I won’t name names to forcibly compare Zylo to the usual suspects, because he does not deserve it: like it or not – and I do acknowledge several of its intriguing aspects – this records shows a strong backbone and a good degree of individuality, regardless of the cosmetic qualities.

No comments:

Subscribe

Follow by Email

NO PART OF IT logo courtesy of Christopher ILTH

NOPE

NO PART OF IT is a "private label" of sorts, headed by Arvo Zylo in secret.

It was kicked off in 2008 with a locked groove 7 inch compilation called "Trunculence" featuring Nurse with Wound, Dave Phillips, Crash Worship, To Live and Shave in L.A., Anakrid, SIXES, and more. 55 artists in total. The initial aim of the label is to release products of active imagination, rather than attention-starved gimmicks, and generally focuses on the work of conceptually isolated, visionary individuals.

About Me

BIO

SHORT:

Active since 2000. Experimental sound structures wavering around industrial noise territory, often characterized by excessive layering of similar direct sources/samples, or constant integration of a YAMAHA RM1X Sequencer.

Recent work has been more performative and based on mic'ed objects, including group ensembles, primal / conceptual vocal work, and soundtrack-oriented premises.

LONG:

Arvo Zylo has been making experimental music that wavers around but is undeniably anchored in the vein of industrial noise, since the year 2000. He works under his own name as well as under the collaborative umbrella moniker "Blood Rhythms".

Zylo started out having no previous knowledge about experimental music, with a primitive sequencer, where he'd destroy presets and cause malfunctions as a primary source of compositional inspiration. His work has evolved to fetishize extreme layering, repetition, raw material action, feedback, human/animal/onomatopoeia sounds, and naturally abrasive elements without the use of effects pedals.

Arvo Zylo has toured the midwest numerous times, as well as being featured at Denver Noise Fest four times, Dead Audio Fest in Houston (2010), St. Louis Fest (2010), Heavy Focus (Minneapolis, 2010), St. Petersburg Noise Fest 2013, Indiana Noise Fest 2013 and 2014. Radio stations he's been interviewed or featured on include WFMU (New Jersey), WZRD (Chicago), WCSB (Cleveland), and WKCR (New York).

In terms of recorded output, both under his own name and under the Blood Rhythms project, he has done split releases with GX Jupitter-Larsen, Le Scrambled Debutante, TOMB, and Death Factory. Some releases have been produced by such outfits as Locrian's private label Land of Decay, Banned Productions headed by AMK, Phage Tapes, Spleencoffin, OUT-OF-BODY RECORDS (headed by Rob of Terminator 2 and FILTH), and others. A handful of collaborators that Zylo has been involved with include Daniel Burke (Illusion of Safety), renowned collage artist Christopher Ilth (ex Daily Void), German Dadaists Kommissar Hjuler und Mama Baer, "avant-industrial gospel" band ONO, and industrial noise veteran Christopher Turner (Nookleptia).

Blood Rhythms has featured either live or recorded contributions from Bruce Lamont (Corrections House, Bloodiest, Yakuza), Ben Billington (Tiger Hatchery, Quicksails), Mike Weis (Zelienople), Alejandro Morales (Piss Piss Piss Moan Moan Moan, RUNNING), Clayton Counts (Bull of Heaven, the Beachles), the aforementioned GX Jupitter-Larsen (the Haters), Elizabeth Floersch (Fatale), and members of the entire band ONO, to be short.

Previous group incarnations started off being based around the concept of playing layers of live brass instruments in a drone fashion with as many live players as possible, but it evolved to incorporate junk metal, prepared guitar, tape loops, power tools, and synthesizers.

People have remarked that Zylo's releases are always very different, but his most representative solo release is "333". There are now over 700 copies in existence, and it took 6 years for him to complete it.

Some select quotes about "333":

"...this recording feels like it had to be made, and it transcends its limited equipment resources as if the music couldn't be stopped..."

"....Arvo Zylo's work is often the product of literal years of toil, the potent result of countless hours refining, perfecting, and focusing wild energies. Projects like his "333" and "Assembly" feel more like they've been finished in a metal refinery than a mastering house, their labyrinthine vertical layers chosen and fixed in place with firm force."

"First, I was really focused on the intensely constructed sequenced structure - then, today, I was struck by the more organic components that seem to grow around the more rigid parts. It is an intense listen, for sure. "

Mark Solotroff (Bloodyminded, Anatomy of Habit, Intrinsic Action)

"A technicolor nightmare..." "...A cyber punk thrill ride" "...totally assaulting music without actually relinquishing the conventional rules of what music should be."

Having been active in live venues for experimental music and noise since 2003, Zylo at one time ran or co hosted two separate weekly experimental showcases, aside from several well received one-off events and warehouse parties. He's been writing on the subject of sound art periodically since around 2006, having written for Roctober, Special Interests, Heathen Harvest, WFMU's Beware of the Blog, Chicago's NewCity, and others. Arvo's "Delirious Insomniac Freeform Radio Show", which ran for 7 years on WLUW, has afforded him the rare opportunities to interview Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, J.G. Thirlwell (Foetus), and several other luminous characters of widely varying backgrounds.

"NO PART OF IT" is a label that kicked off in 2008 with a 7 inch compilation (titled "Trunculence") of 100 locked grooves by 55 artists. Some of those artists were Nurse With Wound, Crash Worship, Helios Creed, Black Leather Jesus, Anakrid, dave phillips, and Sudden Infant.

Aside from personal releases, the label has released a CD compilation celebrating the 4th anniversary of Arvo's radio program (active on WLUW 2007-2014), The Delirious Insomniac Freeform Radio Show. Before that, Zylo was a regular clandestine DJ at WZRD between 2004 and 2007, and continues to make irregular appearances there. "Delirious Music For Delirious People" included songs by Controlled Bleeding, Zola Jesus, Pharmakon, Gary Wilson, Haunted George, Big City Orchestra, Rancid Hell Spawn, WOLD, and more within its 23 tracks.

NO PART OF IT went "off-the-grid" for a couple of years, (there are some releases that sold out without any representation on the internet, we are pleased to say) selling only by xerox newsletters and money orders, but is now back on "the digital scene". (Bandcamp)

On September 9th, 2011, Arvo Fingers and WLUW celebrated the 4th Anniversary of the Delirious Insomniac Freeform Radio Show as well as the release of the first volume of "Delirious Music For Delirious People", a compilation featuring Jarboe, Controlled Bleeding, Zola Jesus, Boyd Rice and Friends, Gary Wilson, BeNe GeSSeRiT, Big City Orchestra, Hans Grusel's Krankenkabinet, and others.